Do-it-yourself UAZ 3303 cabin tuning photo

The UAZ 3303 (“tadpole”) is often used to transport important cargo, as well as as an ambulance.

The car is available in two versions:

330364 – features a large cabin with a metal platform.
330394 – has a small cabin with two seats, the platform is made of wood.

The car has a characteristic tread pattern. Its suspension is dependent on both sides. The brake system is equipped with a vacuum booster and a hydraulic drive; it is dual-circuit.

Imperfect driving characteristics can be eliminated by tuning the vehicle yourself. Many photos on the Internet indicate that after changing the internal systems and design, the car can turn out to be a good vehicle for transporting goods.

Full vehicle tuning includes:

wheel replacement;
development of the chassis;
interior, bumper and body trim;
strengthening tank protection.

Let's consider all the proposed stages in more detail.

Technical and design tuning of the UAZ-3303 Tadpole truck

High-quality and well-thought-out tuning of the UAZ-3303 allows you to transform working and unpresentable equipment into a luxurious and comfortable wheeled all-terrain vehicle that is not inferior to expensive foreign analogues. The Tadpole, as it is popularly called, has a solid foundation and a spacious enough body and cabin to accommodate many useful options. Making changes will increase the functionality, maneuverability and reliability of a small flatbed truck, making it comfortable and representative.

Technical tuning

Modification of the UAZ-3303 with your own hands should begin with modification of the frame. During the tuning process, many different options are installed on the car, which leads to increased load on the frame. To prevent it from breaking, solid pipes or metal plates are welded over the factory seams. If possible, reinforcement is carried out on all sides of the joints. Having strengthened the foundation, you can move on to further improvement of the car.

Wheel part

Installing alloy wheels improves the exterior of the vehicle. The width and diameter of the rubber are selected based on the conditions in which it is planned to be used. If the car is being converted into an all-terrain vehicle for hunting and fishing, it is advisable to install wide wheels with the ability to adjust the pressure from the cabin.

The installation of wheels with an increased diameter involves trimming the arches, lifting work to increase the steering column rods, transfer case and gearbox. But the invested effort and money are justified - the car gains increased cross-country ability.

The all-terrain qualities of a vehicle can be improved by installing tracked blocks on the rear axle. For their manufacture, tracks and gears from snowmobiles are used.

Chassis

Since the car is being converted for off-road driving, the engine and gearbox should be protected from mechanical impact. To do this, an aluminum or titanium plate of centimeter thickness is attached under the power plant.

If the springs are in satisfactory condition, then they can be left, cleaned of dirt and rust. It is advisable to replace worn-out products. Hydraulic shock absorbers with height adjustment are installed on both axles. This will allow you to change the vehicle's ground clearance for highway or off-road driving. The self-locking differential on the rear axle increases the cross-country ability of the vehicle.

Fuel tank

The fuel container is practically not protected from external influences. When moving through impassable terrain or bad roads, there is always a risk of not only puncturing the tank, but also losing it completely upon contact with a stone, tree trunk or thick mud.

There are the following options for protecting the fuel tank:

Replacing standard mounts with powerful steel holders with a thick steel plate on the base.
Transferring the tank into the body or into the space between the cab and the cargo compartment.

Both options are simple from a technical point of view and do not require approval from the traffic police.

Winch installation

Now let's move on to the winch. On off-road terrain, situations often arise in which you will have to get out of trouble on your own. When you are stuck in the mud and there is not a single soul around, the winch will become your savior. In addition, you will have the opportunity to help your comrades on the road. On the UAZ 3303 you can install both electric and electric. The difference between these types is significant, because the latter is more reliable, and it is preferred by most off-road enthusiasts. The advantage of hydraulics is that they are more powerful and are powered by a motor that builds up pressure. Its electric competitor operates through a battery, which shortens the battery's lifespan.

To strengthen the cabin, a kenguryatnik is installed. This protective arc will serve you when the machine comes into contact with trees and other obstacles, and the placement of spotlights above the cab will come in handy at night. You can also tune the interior: make it soundproof and install more comfortable seats. If you cannot do without music, then you will need to contact a company that installs car audio in the UAZ 3303. The tuning photos look great. With the right approach, you can simply make a “candy” out of our domestic car, because even the most expensive SUV can envy the cross-country ability of this car.

Before you start tuning the UAZ “Tadpole”, you need to decide on the specific purposes of its use in order to understand what type of alteration will be: complete or partial. Partial tuning is more suitable for those drivers who do not intend to drive on serious off-road conditions. As a result, the motorist will be able to easily go mushroom hunting in the nearest forest and navigate muddy rural roads.

This kind of tuning does not make significant changes to the design of the car. As a rule, it includes the installation of special 31-inch mud tires, as well as a winch and power kit. To increase comfort, you can fork out for tuning the interior of the UAZ 3303.

A complete redesign of the UAZ “Tadpole” involves making major changes to its body and side. It is for this reason that it takes much longer and consists of several main stages. Upon completion of such modifications, “Tadpole” will easily be able to cross shallow rivers and real off-road conditions.

Designer tuning

External modernization of a car is carried out in order to distinguish it from the general monotony, make it visible and catchy, and attract the attention of others. Correct tuning allows you not only to visually improve the appearance of the car, but also to make it more comfortable and functional. Irrational modernization leads to accelerated wear of components and mechanisms, reducing the service life of the vehicle.

Interior trim

As for the UAZ-3303, tuning the cabin is an almost unlimited field of activity. You should start from the outside.

You can do the following:

install tinted windows, equip doors with electric lifts;
restore old optics by inserting new LED lamps into them;
trim with plastic fairings;
paint it in a color that matches the purpose of the machine;
make stylish footrests.

Interior upgrade options:

safe and multifunctional dashboard;
ergonomic steering wheel with adjustable column;
climate control system;
chairs with air suspension, armrests and position regulators;
on-board computer with navigator;
covering surfaces with sound and heat insulating materials;
light plastic furniture with sliding doors.

A removable console can be installed on the engine compartment cover.

Bumper

The best option for modifying the bumper is to install a powerful steel grille. This product will give your car a new look and protect the radiator from stones and branches. In addition, the thick tubes provide a good base for the exterior main and fog lights. The rear bumper is being upgraded to a monolithic structure that serves as a step for lifting into the body.

If the bumper is not expected to come into contact with obstacles, then it can be covered with foam plastic and covered on top with fiberglass cloth impregnated with epoxy glue.

Body

Restoring the body of a UAZ-3303 is simple: you need to remove the worn out boards and lay down a new covering. The optimal modification option is to install a lightweight frame booth with panoramic glazing. Inside there are soft sofas that transform into sleeping places. It is advisable to equip the body with an independent heater, refrigerator and cooking appliances.

Tuning the cabin and sides of the UAZ 3303

In order to go to the forest to pick mushrooms or berries, as well as for fishing, the UAZ 3303 has long been used. This is an excellent assistant when organizing long off-road trips. In Soviet times, it was used to transport large numbers of people to work on the collective farm, as well as to transport management.

UAZ 3303 is an SUV with a “light truck” body type. It was produced, like all cars of the UAZ line, at the Ulyanovsk plant. The cabin of this truck has two seats. It was popularly nicknamed “Tadpole” due to the large shape of the cabin.

Replacing tires

The first thing you need to do for your car is change the tires. The tuned UAZ 3303 will be an indispensable friend for you when hunting, fishing, or simply when traveling on obvious off-road roads. Shallow rivers are often found in the forests of our country, and after heavy rains, most of the land is immersed in mud. Therefore, the right decision would be to install rubber that is capable of overcoming such obstacles. The ideal size of such tires can be up to 25 inches. The UAZ 3303, which you are going to tune, also needs to strengthen the suspension.

UAZ tuning

It’s easy to organize tuning of a UAZ 3303. It is enough to have basic knowledge of mechanics, as well as a little understanding of technology. You can look at the tuned UAZ 3303 at this link

The organization of tuning in relation to UAZ is as follows:

first the wheels are tuned;
then tuning the chassis;
interior trim;
bumper tuning;
body tuning;
strengthening tank protection.

This is a brief listing of all stages of tuning the UAZ 3303. Below everything will be discussed in more detail.

Wheel tuning

In order to increase the cross-country ability of a truck, it is necessary to pay special attention to the wheels. They need to be changed to wider ones. The maximum diameter should not exceed 24 inches. This tuning is organized in this way:

to begin with, the car body is raised, spacers are installed and the wings are trimmed;
bridges need to be replaced with Barsov bridges with a larger width;
In addition, the differential needs to be changed. In this case, you can achieve an amazing effect: the wheels will not slip in any bad weather, and the transmission will last much longer;
You can also replace springs and shock absorbers. The first should be installed longer, and the second should be imported;

a winch needs to be installed. This is necessary to protect the glass from scratches. Most often they choose electric, as it is more reliable. However, you should also change the battery to a more powerful one.

At this point, the work with the wheel part is completed and you can move on to the next stage.

What can be done to a car to ensure cross-country ability?

To increase the vehicle's cross-country ability, wheels of larger width and diameter should be installed. According to the recommendations of experts, the maximum diameter should not exceed 24 inches, as otherwise the car’s stability on the road will be lost. You can replace wheels as follows:

First, the car is lifted to provide access to the chassis. Particular attention should be paid to securing the vehicle to ensure the safety of the work being carried out.
The next step is to trim the wings. In order to install tires with a larger tread and diameter, the space under the wheel arches will have to be increased.
It is also necessary to replace standard bridges with Barsovsky ones, which have a larger width.
You can also increase cross-country ability by replacing the differential. By installing a more advanced design, you can achieve an effect in which the wheels will not slip in almost any weather conditions. In addition, by increasing the efficiency of this element, the service life of the transmission is significantly increased.
You can replace the springs on the rear axle and the shock absorbers at the front. It is worth considering that the original springs are relatively short in length. Due to this, the load-carrying capacity and shock-absorbing qualities are significantly reduced. Original shock absorbers will not last long, and they have poorer performance. Therefore, it is recommended to install imported ones.
Increasing ground clearance has a negative impact on vehicle stability. That is why it is necessary to provide for the installation of additional elements in the form of stabilizers. They are installed on the sides and allow you to maintain the required balance when entering a turn.
An electric winch is installed, which will allow you to get out of difficult areas. In addition, you should install a more powerful battery, which will allow you to start the car even in severe frost.
Other wheels and tires will also be required. By installing wheels of larger diameter, ground clearance increases significantly. However, to do this you will have to slightly change the wheel arches, cutting them to the desired level.
As the ground clearance increases, the car's cornering stability is lost. As a result, when entering a turn at high speed, there is a high probability of capsizing. To increase cross-country ability, additional stabilization elements are installed.
The body can also be upgraded. A common method of changing the design is to install a system that will raise the body to unload cargo. Of course, this will require installing a hydraulic system.

The above work will significantly increase the vehicle's cross-country ability.

Interior trim

In order to give the car a more modern look, it is necessary to change the interior trim, as well as the seats. To achieve this, the following scope of work is carried out:

First, the interior trim is done. To do this you need:

The seats need to be replaced. You can choose absolutely any shape you like. If they are not spacious enough, you can adjust them a little by trimming the edges. The old seats are then thrown away. For new ones, the following work is carried out:

first, two small corners are welded to the seats themselves;
Holes are made in these parts and screwed into the floor using small bolts.

Due to the fact that the seats are slightly pushed forward, you can sit on them, reclining slightly. This method allows you to enjoy the road without straining your back and arms.

For ease of driving, you can install a hydraulic booster - a special hydraulic system that makes it easier to twist the steering wheel.

After this, you can tune the dashboard by replacing the film with performance indicators of the devices.

Thus, at minimal cost you can greatly transform your truck. This is what the cabin will look like after the tuning:

Step-by-step instruction

The hydraulic lifting mechanism that the UAZ will be equipped with consists of several components: a semi-frame, a subframe, an electrically driven hydraulic pump, a hydraulic crane, an oil tank, a hydraulic cylinder and high-pressure oil lines.

Half frame, subframe, hydraulic cylinder

Let's start with the half frame, it is needed to install the body. It is this that allows the body to tip over.

The half-frame consists of two parts. One part is rigidly fixed to the UAZ frame. By means of pin hinges on one side it is connected to the second part, to which the loading platform is attached.

It is better to make the longitudinal beams of both half-frames from T-beams and I-beams, and position them so that the upper part of the folded beams rests on the beams of the lower part of the half-frame.

The lower part of the semi-frame is strengthened with cross members. The top one, in addition to the crossbars, should also have transverse projections on the sides, which will provide support for the cargo platform along its entire width.

At the end where the pin hinges will be located, lugs are attached to the parts of the semi-frames, which must match with their holes. The pins will need to be installed in these holes, and they will need to be secured in the holes to prevent them from falling out.

To connect the half-frame structure, you can use welded joints, but it is better to secure the lower part of the half-frame to the car frame using bolted connections.

The second ball joint is the lower one, fixed to the subframe. This subframe should be in the shape of a bracket. This shape is made so that the hydraulic cylinder, when folded, does not interfere with the complete lowering of the body and the landing of the upper part of the semi-frame on the lower part. The dimensions and method of fastening the hydraulic cylinder subframe are selected experimentally. After this, the hydraulic cylinder is installed in place.

Hydraulic pump, its drive and control valve

Next we move on to the hydraulic pump and its drive.
Most often, the pump is NSh-10, from MTZ-80. Its performance is quite sufficient for the operation of a hydraulic cylinder. There are several pump drives, so we will describe the simplest one, namely from the starter. To do this, a starter from MTZ-80 is taken and slightly modified to allow operation for a long time. Next you need to connect the starter shaft to the pump shaft. To do this, you can use the hinge from the steering of any passenger car. Next, the starter and pump are fixed on the platform to prevent them from moving relative to each other.

The pump and drive are fixed to the cross member of the car frame, so as to prevent their damage. Then the wiring is thrown from the car’s battery to the starter, making sure to include a switch in the circuit.

An oil tank is also attached to the frame of the car; a volume of 10 liters will be enough. Then the lines are connected from the oil tank to the pump, and from it to the hydraulic cylinder.

Body tuning

Often the body of UAZ 3303 rusts. In order to put it in order, you can do the following:

disassemble it and thoroughly clean it of dirt;
trim the most corrosive areas;
weld the linings;
paint the body. To do this, you must first use a primer, with which the body is given a streamlined and even shape, and then painted with emulsion paint in two layers. Attention! In order for it to adhere better, it is necessary to apply the paint in layers: first one layer, then dry and a second layer.

If necessary, you can change the shape and dimensions of the body. It can be made longer or slightly wider.

Tank tuning

This item includes protection for the tank, steering wheel and motor. This type of tuning proceeds as follows:

First you need to strengthen the cabin. This is done using a shockproof frame;
Next, you should move the air intake from the engine compartment to the roof of the UAZ 3303;
it is necessary to install a roof rack;
For protection, the steering wheel can be covered with a casing or any upholstery that you like.

Thus, with some ingenuity and diligence, you can turn the 3303 truck into a more advanced version of an SUV. If something doesn’t work out for you, you can always contact any auto repair shop, where leading specialists will help you.

Thanks to domestic engineers

Domestic engineers designed the car in such a way that the owner has a wide range of actions that can be carried out in the UAZ 3303 car. Do-it-yourself tuning is completely easy to do even in your garage. But you still need to know certain structural features of this car. You have the opportunity to tune the chassis, appearance, and also add comfort to the interior of your UAZ 3303. Tuning the cabin will consist of modernizing and strengthening the body, so after improvement the car can safely be called an SUV. As a rule, modernization also concerns the wheelbase. which is most often tuned, has wide-profile off-road tires and a power body kit. But everything is in order.